Prep playoff roundup: Bear River softball advances in state tournament; BR baseball knocked out
ST. GEORGE — One big inning was all it took for Bear River High softball to break open its 4A state tournament game against No. 5 Hurricane on Wednesday.
Leading 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning, McCall Maxfield hit a three-run home run to left field and four batters later, after a Bella Douglas RBI double, Jordyn Warren hit a two-run shot to left field as the No. 1 Bears won 8-1 to advance in the tournament.
They’ll play at 12:30 p.m. Thursday against either Hurricane or Snow Canyon, whichever of the two wins an elimination game Thursday morning. Kate Dahle pitched a complete game for Bear River (27-3), ending the game on a strikeout.
Dahle and the Bears’ defense sat Hurricane batters down in order in the second, third, fifth and seventh innings.
BR outfielder Kynlei Nelson led off the first inning by getting to second base on a popup that fell in shallow left field. A flyout to right field and a groundout were enough to get Nelson home two batters later for an early 1-0 lead.
A fielding error brought in Bear River’s second run in the third inning for a 2-0 lead. Hurricane came back with an RBI single in the fourth to cut the lead to 2-1.
Earlier Wednesday, Bear River beat No. 11 Cedar 6-3 in its state-tournament opener. The Bears are defending state champions.
BASEBALL
SNOW CANYON 11, BEAR RIVER 1
ST. GEORGE — Bear River baseball’s season came to an end in a six-inning, elimination-game loss to Snow Canyon on Wednesday in St. George.
The No. 5 Bears led 1-0 in the first inning before the No. 4 Warriors came to bat, but Snow Canyon eventually built an 8-1 lead going to the sixth, where the Warriors scored three more runs to trigger the 10-run rule.
Bear River ends the season with a 23-7 record.
DIXIE 2, BEAR RIVER 1
ST. GEORGE — On Tuesday night, No. 5 Bear River lost a pitcher’s duel to No. 1 Dixie in a winner’s bracket game.
Ashton Harrow pitched six innings and allowed two earned runs on six hits with five strikeouts for Bear River. Hunter Smoot hit 2 for 3 with a triple and Alec Callister drove in one run.
Dixie’s Boston Vest hit a solo homer in the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie.
BOYS SOCCER
TUESDAY SCORES
5A 2nd round: Lehi 4, Northridge 2
5A 2nd round: Provo 2, Bountiful 1